17 express bus firms on list as Malaysia names companies with overdue traffic summonses

PUTRAJAYA – In an effort to reduce accidents involving heavy vehicles, the Transport Ministry has announced a list of companies with the most overdue traffic summonses.

Transport Minister Anthony Loke revealed that 11 companies operating goods vehicles have over 1,000 overdue traffic summonses. Additionally, there are 17 express bus companies with more than 200 overdue summonses.

“The list is long. But, as a warning, we will just reveal a part of it. This is because Malaysians want to see a change in culture. We don’t want another bus tragedy that sacrificed so many lives,” said Mr Loke during a press conference at the Transport Ministry on June 25.

“The companies have to pay the summons as a lesson, so that they will change to a safer road culture,” said Mr Loke.

The companies involved were given 14 days to settle their traffic summonses, failing which they will be blacklisted immediately.

Mr Loke also noted that the Transport Ministry will continue to introduce measures to improve road safety, and is ready to assist companies in complying with road safety regulations.

“For example, we can advise them on how to train their drivers. We don’t want to just punish. We will hold their hands in meeting the regulations,” he added.

According to Mr Loke, the top five traffic offences involving companies operating goods vehicles were technical offences (non-compliant brakes/tyres), driving without a licence, overweight vehicles, driving without insurance coverage, and driving above the speed limit.

For companies operating express buses, the top offences were driving above the speed limit, regular traffic offences, technical offences, driving without a licence, and driving without insurance coverage.

“If there are companies that are still stubborn in their ways, we will consider making this (announcement of companies with most traffic summonses) a periodical measure from time to time. It won’t be one-off,” he warned.

He also urged the public to assist by taking videos of reckless drivers on the road.

“If you don’t want to lodge a report with us, just make the video viral on social media and that will reach us,” he said.

Videos of errant drivers should include visible number plates, company names, and the location, time and date of the incident, Mr Loke said.

“Once we receive that (video), the JPJ and the Land Public Transport Agency will investigate. We will ask the company to provide the GPS of their vehicle and verify their location.

“We will investigate, and once it is proven that there is an offence, action will be taken immediately, and this is our promise to the people,” he said.

The minister also stressed the need for drastic action after the recent spate of accidents involving heavy vehicles.

“We don’t want another bus tragedy to happen. Let the Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) serve as a lesson to all, so it will never be repeated again,” he said.

On June 9, 15 UPSI students died when a bus travelling from Jertih, Terengganu, to the UPSI campus in Tanjung Malim, Perak, overturned in an accident with a multi-purpose vehicle on the highway.

Another 33 were injured, including the bus driver and co-driver, as well as the driver and three passengers of the MPV. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK